Apartment, guide in Rome

Four of us (two couples) spent a week in Rome, Dec. 26 2012-Jan. 3, 2013. As we have done for the past 20 years of traveling together during this holiday week, we rented a furnished apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen. We always choose a central location.

We booked our apartment in Rome in March ’12, and we struck “gold.” The apartment (at 45 Via del SS Quattro) was located within a block of the Colosseum, which is impressive to look at from any angle, day and night. And all places of interest, except the Vatican, were within walking distance (bearing in mind that Rome was built on seven hills). Since the weather cooperated all week, these walks across Rome became the highlight of our short visit.

Our rental agent was Roman Reference (Via dei Capocci 94 - 00184 Rome, Italy; phone +39 064 890 3612, fax 064 898 6666), which connected us with the apartment’s owners. For the week, we paid €1,827 (near $2,380). Before the owner let us settle into the apartment, he personally made sure that it was immaculate and stocked with extra sheets and towels.

The large, modern and fully furnished apartment could actually accommodate six people, since it also had a den with bunk beds. The appliances and equipment in the kitchen were sufficient to cook a full-course meal. We were not inclined to do so because the area had a large number of wonderful restaurants and cafés.

To top things off, about a month before we arrived we hired Francesca Caruso (phone 339 261 6482 or email francescainroma@gmail.com) for half a day to take us inside some of the places that we wanted to see without having to stand in long queues.

Francesca is a licensed guide. Her English is perfect and so is her knowledge of local history, architecture and art. We paid her $50 an hour for our 5-hour walking tour across the ancient city of Rome, which took in outdoor markets, museums, galleries, monuments and the Pantheon. We paid our own admission fees and treated her to lunch. She actually declined to accept a tip!

FRED KRANZ
Potomac, MD